Although the Marvel Cinematic Universe achieved enormous success, some of its actors also appeared in other terrible comic book films. The MCU films have had many actors employed to bring Marvel Comics characters to life on the big screen. With so many heroes, villains, and supporting characters featured in the ever-expanding franchise – especially since the introduction of its Multiversal variants – many of its actors feature faces familiar to comic book movie fans.
While the MCU’s film timeline has proven to be a huge success, that’s not always the case in the broader comic book genre. Many terrible comic book movies have been made over the years, with some actors appearing in both. In fact, Marvel has a habit of casting actors who have also appeared in inferior superhero films. With that in mind, here are 10 MCU actors who also appeared in other terrible comic book movies.
10
Chris Evans was in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007)
First appearance in the MCU: Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
Chris Evans’ most iconic role came with his casting in 2011 Captain America: The First Avenger. His performance as Steve Rogers earned him some of his biggest career successes, with many prominent appearances in the MCU as the founding Avenger and leader of the franchise’s heroes. However, Evans also played another Marvel role before the start of the MCU, including in a notably terrible comic book movie.
Even after 2005 Fantastic Four was met with somewhat mixed reactions, its sequel, 2007 Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surferit was decidedly worse. The sequel mistreated several Marvel characters and its confusing story and poor dialogue made it a notoriously poor effort in the superhero genre. Evans played Johnny Storm in both films – and later reprized the role for a cameo in Deadpool and Wolverine – with his appearance in the sequel marking perhaps his worst comic book movie appearance.
9
Ryan Reynolds was in Green Lantern (2011) and RIPD (2013)
First appearance in the MCU: Deadpool and Wolverine (2024)
Despite having played Wade Wilson three times previously, Ryan Reynolds’ MCU debut actually came as part of Deadpool and WolverineIt’s cast. This is due to the other Dead Pool films being set entirely within Fox X-Men continuity, and the titular antihero only crossing over into the MCU via the Multiverse Saga. Reynolds’ turn as Deadpool was a huge success, but his history with comic book movies wasn’t always so well-regarded.
Ryan Reynolds has appeared in not one, but two terrible comic book adaptations. 2011 Green Lantern is notoriously bad, with even Reynolds himself mocking the film on several occasions. He also starred RIPD alongside Jeff Bridges, in a live-action adaptation of the Dark Horse comic series of the same name. Very similar Green Lantern, RIPD was criticized, which means that Ryan Reynolds’ past is filled with more bad comic book movies than most.
8
Tommy Lee Jones was in Batman Forever (1995)
First appearance in the MCU: Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
Tommy Lee Jones is one of the best actors to appear in the MCU, achieving much critical success throughout his film career. Jones appeared in 2011 Captain America: The First Avenger as Colonel Chester Phillips, serving as Steve Rogers’ commander and mentor of sorts during World War II. In addition to appearing in the MCU, Jones was in a notably poor DC film.
Tommy Lee Jones also appeared in 1995 Batman Forever alongside Val Kilmer’s Batman and Jim Carrey’s Riddler. The film is widely considered one of the worst Batman adaptations ever made, behind only its 1997 sequel, Batman and Robin. Jones’ turn as DC villain Two-Face certainly didn’t earn him any praise, as Batman Forever It was a considerable critical failure and one of the most notable failures in the actor’s career.
7
Samuel L. Jackson Was in the Spirit (2008)
First appearance in the MCU: Iron Man (2008)
Samuel L. Jackson’s role in the MCU remains one of the most important in the franchise, as he was responsible for the formation of the Avengers and has been shown offering guidance to many heroes. Jackson first appeared in the MCU’s first post-credits scene in Iron Manwith his version of Nick Fury helping to build the foundations of the franchise. Iron Man wasn’t Jackson’s only comic book film of 2008.
2008 also saw the release of The Spiritwritten and directed by Frank Miller and based on the 1940s and 1950s newspaper strip of the same name. Jackson played the Octopus, the film’s larger-than-life villain, but The Spirit it was almost instantly forgotten due to its crushing critical and commercial failure. However, Jackson’s role in Iron Man It turned out to be not only popular, but extremely fruitful, earning it a future comic book movie in the MCU.
6
Laurence Fishburne was in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007)
First appearance in the MCU: Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
Lawrence Fishburne may have played far from one of the MCU’s most prominent characters, but he’s still one of the franchise’s most notable actors. Fishburne appeared in 2018 Ant-Man and the Wasp like Bill Foster, who, despite being a hero in the comics, is a former colleague of Hank Pym who reveals that he is working with the film’s villain in the MCU. More than a decade earlier, Fishburne also appeared in a different Marvel sequel.
Fishburne voiced the Silver Surfer in 2007 Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer alongside Chris Evans. Fishburne’s role in the film was relatively limited, as the Surfer wasn’t given a huge amount of dialogue.and Fishburne’s image was not used. The film’s reputation as a notoriously bad pre-MCU Marvel movie means that Fishburne’s turn as Foster will likely be his best role in a Marvel comic book movie.
5
David Harbor was in Hellboy (2019)
First appearance in the MCU: Black Widow (2021)
After his role in Stranger Things gave his career a huge boost, David Harbor made his MCU debut in 2021 Black Widow. Harbor played Alexei Shostakov, better known as the Red Guardian, the first official supersoldier of the Soviet Union. He also served as Natasha Romanov’s father during her childhood while they lived as Soviet agents in America. Black Widow It wasn’t Harbour’s first major comic book film, as he had appeared in an ill-fated reboot two years earlier.
Harbor starred as the titular character in 2019 hell boya reboot following Guillermo del Toro’s beloved films based on the character. Adapted from the Dark Horse Comics series of the same name the 2019 film was a critical and commercial disaster. However, Harbour’s role as Red Guardian gained him much more recognition, meaning he has a future in comic book movies despite hell boythe flaws.
4
Idris Elba was in Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2011)
First appearance in the MCU: Thor (2011)
Idris Elba grew up to become one of the most recognized movie stars in the world, but in 2011 he was still relatively unknown. That year, he landed two different roles in Marvel films, the most prominent being a supporting role as Heimdall in Thorwhich Elba repeated on several occasions. The actor’s other 2011 Marvel film didn’t provide him with the same opportunity.
Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance followed the events of 2007 Ghost Riderwith Nicolas Cage returning as Johnny Blaze. Elba played Moreau in the film, a French member of an underground religious organization who helps the titular hero. The film was not well received and although Elba’s performance received some praise, Spirit of Vengeance remains one of the most underappreciated chapters in Marvel’s non-MCU film history.
3
Jon Favreau was in Daredevil (2003)
First appearance in the MCU: Iron Man (2008)
Jon Favreau is an important figure in the MCU, influencing the franchise on and off screen. Favreau has been part of the MCU since its inception, directing and appearing in 2008 Iron Man as Happy Hogan, and reprized the role many times in the following years. Before the creation of the MCU, however, Favreau played an entirely different character, although he still served as a companion and close friend to a Marvel hero.
Favreau appeared as Foggy Nelson in 2003 Reckless alongside Ben Affleck. Reckless was unsuccessful upon its release, receiving reviews that could be considered mixed at best. Considering the enormous success of Iron Man and the franchise that followed, It’s fair to say that Favreau has more than redeemed himself in the eyes of Marvel movie fans.
2
Michael B. Jordan was in the Fantastic Four (2015)
First appearance in the MCU: Black Panther (2018)
Michael B. Jordan’s MCU debut was one of the strongest in the franchise’s history, earning him praise for playing one of the MCU’s best villains. Jordan joined the franchise in Black Pantherplaying Erik Killmonger, T’Challa’s long-lost cousin who returns to claim the throne of Wakanda and share its power with the world. Just a few years before his acclaimed MCU debut, Jordan starred in another Marvel film that wasn’t as successful.
2015 Fantastic Four was directed by Josh Trank and stars Michael B. Jordan as the Human Torch. Despite a talented cast, the reboot failed to impress critics and received scathing reviews. Jordan’s role in the unpopular film did not hurt his career at all, especially since his role as Killmonger in Black Panther brought him considerable success and acclaim despite his terrible previous experience in comic book films.
1
Josh Brolin was in Jonah Hex (2010)
First appearance in the MCU: Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Josh Brolin’s turn as Thanos may not have used the actor’s image, but his raspy voice worked perfectly for the MCU’s Mad Titan. After making two small appearances in the role, Brolin was fully introduced as the main antagonist of Avengers: Infinity Warwreaking havoc across the universe after using the power of the Infinity Stones. Before starring in two of the highest-grossing films of all time, Brolin led the cast of another comic book film.
2010 saw the release of Jonas Hexa film based on the DC character of the same name. Brolin’s role as Hex was not well received, as the film was panned by critics and subsequently rejected by its star. As Brolin gained considerable popularity as Cable in Deadpool 2 and like Thanos in the MCU, it’s fair to say he almost certainly enjoyed his role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe more than his foray into the world of DC.